Scoop attachment for a demolition machine and the like



Oct. 6, 1976 4 L. A. GRANT 3,532,234

SCOOP ATTACHMENT FOR A DEMOLITION MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed July 11,196e 2 sheets-sheet 1 L. A. GRANT Oct. 6, 1970 scoop ATTACHMENT FOR ADEMOLITION MACHINE ANDTHE LIKE Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2United States Patent O 3,532,234 SCOOP ATTACHMENT FOR A DEMOLITIONMACHINE AND THE LIKE Louis A. Grant, 7886 Saltsburg Road, Pittsburgh,Pa. 15239 Filed July 11, 1968, Ser. No. 744,024 Int. Cl. E02f 3/30 U.S.Cl. 214-138 S Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE I disclose a scoopattachment for a demolition machine and the like `having a movable iboomstructure, said attachment comprising a pivoted boom section, bearingand pivot means secured to each end of said boom section and extendinggenerally axially thereof, the pivot portion of each of said bearing andpivot means being displaced laterally of the longitudinal axis of saidpivoted boom section, a scoop member, means for pivotally joining saidscoop member to the associated one of said bearing and pivot means, andan extendible and retractable linkage connected between said pivotedboom section and said scoop member, said linkage being displacedlaterally of said pivot portion.

The present invention relates to excavating and demolition means andmore particularly to a scoop or bucket attachment actuating meanstherefor for use with a demolition machine or the like.

Although my invention is described primarily in connection withdemolition machines for use in cleaning soaking pit furnaces and thelike, it will be apparent as this description proceeds that my inventionis of general utility, and can be used for example with various types ofexcavating machines. For this reason at least a portion of the linkages52, 54 are enclosed within the tubular boom sections 30, 16respectively. Pivotal movement of at least the outer linkage 52 islimited by its associated boom section 30, as evident from FIG. 1. Inparticular, my invention is described for use wtih demolition machinesdescribed and claimed in my co-pending application, entitled DemolitionMachine tiled Sept. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 581,273 and now U.S. Pat. No.3,458,396.

The importance and ditculty involved in removing the hardened debrisfrom soaking pit furnaces and the like have been described in detail inmy aforementioned pending application. In many such soaking pit furnacesthe oor structure thereof is provided with a bottom opening for removingthe debris. The demolition machine such as described in myaforementioned co-pending aplication, can be manipulated to push chunksof debris through the opening after the debris has been broken up by themachine. However, this delays removal of the demolition machine from thesoaking pit and I have lfound that the scoop attachment describde hereinis much Imore eiicaceous in sweeping the broken up debris into the pitfurnace opening.

Other types of soaking pit furnaces have no bottom opening, and thedebris, after it has been broken up by the demolition machine, must beremoved through the top opening of the soaking pit.

My demolition machine as disclosed in the aforementioned applicationobviously canont be used for removing debris through the top soaking pitopening. The scoop attachment disclosed herein is admirably suitable,however, for this purpose. The scoop attachment, in one example thereof,is arranged for connection to the demo;- lition machine in place of itsdemolition tool and cradle. My novel scoop attachment is arranged forconvenient CFI 3,532,234 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 JCC manipulation withinthe space limitations imposed by the contines of most soaking pits.

I am aware of course of a number of scoop arrangements which arepresently known in the art. Most of these arrangements are limited rangeand maneuverability. Those known scoop arrangements which do permit somedegree of maneuverability, typified for example by the U.S. patent toPrzybylski No. 3,003,649 are of bulky construction and are thereforeincapable of proper manipulation within the confines of a soaking pitfurnace.

In particular, the upwardly projecting components of the Prybylskistructure would interfere with the charging crane normally used forsoaking pit operations and usually allowing only about 38 inches ofclearance above the pit.

I overcome these disadvangtages of the prior art by providing a readilymaneuverable scoop arrangement for use with demolition machines and thelike, particularly in closely confined quarters such as within a soakingpit furnace. My novel scoop arrangement can be furnished if desired, inthe form of an attachment for the aforcmentioned demolition machine orfor other types of excavating equipment. The scoop attachment isparticularly useful in connection with a demolition machine or the likehaving an extendible boom structure. Its maneuverability is effectedthrough the use of novel and relatively simple mechanical connectionswhich require a minimum of space for operation.

I accomplish these desirable results by providing a scoop attachment fora demolition machine or the like having a movable boom structure, saidscoop attachment comprising bearing and pivot means secured to the outerend portion of said boom structure, said bearing and pivot -means beingshaped so that the pivot portion thereof is displaced slightly laterallyof said boom structure, a pivoted boom section having bearing and pivotmeans joined to each end thereof, each of said last-mentioned bearingand pivot means having a pivot portion displaced laterally of saidpivoted lboom section, means for pivotally joining one of saidlast-mentioned bearing and pivot means to said first-mentioned bearingand pivot means, a scoop member, means for pivotally joined said scoopmember to the other of said second-mentioned bearing and pivot means,and extendible and retractable linkages connected between said boomstructure and said pivoted boom section, and between said pivoted Iboomsection and said scoop member at positions laterally displaced from saidpivot portions respectively.

I also desirably provide a similar scoop arrangement wherein at leastone end of said linkages is secured to the associated one of said boomstructure and said pivoted boom section adjacent the longitudinal axisthereof.

I also desirably provide a similar scoop arrangement wherein saidpivoted boom section is of tubular configuration, said boom structureincludes a tubular section to which said rst-mentioned bearing and pivotmeans are joined, and said linkages are secured respectively to mountingmembers within said boom section.

I also desirably provide a scoop attachment for a demolition machine andthe like having a movable boom structure, said attachment comprising apivoted boom section, bearing and pivot means secured to each end ofsaid boom section and extending generally axially thereof, the pivotportion of each of said bearing and pivot means being displacedlaterally of the longitudinal axis of said pivoted boom section, a scoopmember, means for pivotally joining said scoop member to the associatedone of said bearing and pivot means, and an extendible and retractablelinkage connected between said pivoted boom section and said scoopmember, said linkage being displaced laterally of said pivot portion.

During the foregoing discussion, Various objects, features andadvantages of the invention have been set forth. These and otherobjects, features and advantages of the invention together withstructural details thereof will be elaborated upon during theforthcoming description of certain presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention and presently preferred methods of practicing the same.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain presently preferredembodiments of the invention and have illustrated certain presentlypreferred methods of practicing the same, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one arrangement of scoop attachmentin accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic fluid circuit diagram of components added to thecircuit of FIG. 8 of the aforementioned copending application for thepurpose of operating my novel scoop attachment, when the latter isutilized with the demolition machine disclosed in such application.

Referring now in greater detail to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, theexemplary scoop attachment 10 shown therein is arranged in this examplefor use with an extensible boom structure 12, which can be similar tothat illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the aforementioned application. Inthis example, boom structure 12 includes telescoping sections 14, 16shown in their withdrawn condition. The outward end of the inner boomsection 16, which in this example is of square tubular configuration, isprovided with a pair of bearing plates 18, each of which include anoutwardly extending arm and bushing 22. The plates 18 are Welded orotherwise secured to the sidewalls of the inner boom section 16. A pairof narrower bearing plates 24 are similarly joined to the underside ofthe inner boom section 16 (as viewed in FIG. 1) and are secured at theirouter ends to a single bushing 26. The respective openings in thebushings 22, 26 are aligned for insertion of pivot pin 28.

An intermediate boom section 30 is pivotally joined to the bearingplates 18, 24 in place of the demolition tool cradle and demolition tooldepicted in my aforementioned application. The boom section 30 ispivoted to the outer extremities of the bearing plates 18, 24 by a pairof support arms 32, as better shown in FIG. 2, joined in this example tothe underside of the pivoted boom section 30. The support arms 32likewise can be welded to the underside of the pivoted boom section 30,as viewed in FIG. 1, and are inserted respectively between the outerbushings 22 and the adjacent inner bearing plates 24 as better shown inFIG. 2. In order to accommodate passage of the pivot pin 28 each of thearms 3-2 is provided with a suitable aperture 34 adjacent its outwardextremity.

The pivoted boom section 30, in this example, can also be of squaretubular configuration, and desirably is strengthened by a transversesupporting plate 36 secured within the pivoted boom section 30, as bywelding, at a position adjacent the arms 32. The stabilizing plate 36serves also to support eye brackets 38, 40` which are secured toopposite sides of the stabilizing plate 36 as shown. The eye brackets38, 40 atford points of attachment for the operating linkages describedbelow.

The other, outward end of the pivoted boom section 30 terminates in thisexample in a total of four bearing plates 18', 24 and associatedlinkages 22', 26 which are, in this example, similar to the bearingplates and bushings described above in connection with the outward endportion of the inner boom section 16. The bearing plates 18', 24',however, are arranged to support pivotally a scoop or bucket 42, whichis provided with a pair of cooperating bearing plates 44 for thispurpose, as shown in FIG. 2. In this example the buckets bearing plates44 are generally of triangular configuration and are stabilized by anintermediate gusset plate 46 and by a pair of outer gusset plates 48.The gusset plates 46, 48 desirably are welded to the respectivelyadjacent surfaces of the scoop 42 and the scoops bearing plates 44.Adjacent corresponding apieces of the buckets bearing plates 44,suitable apertures 50, are formed to accommodate pivot pin 28 as bettershown in FIG. 2. The buckets bearing plates 44 are also spaced tointertit with the outer bushings 22 and adjacent bearing plates 24 ofthe pivoted boom section 30.

The scoop 42 and the pivoted boom section 30 are actuated respectivelyby piston and cylinder arrangements denoted generally by referencecharacters 52, 54. In this example the scoop cylinder 52 is connectedbetween the aforementioned eye bracket 40 and pivoted apertures 56formed in this example in other apieces of the scoop bearing plates 44and therefore spaced from the pivoted apertures 50. Extension andretraction of piston rod 58 therefore pivots the scoop 42 between thepositions denoted by the solid outline thereof in FI-G. 1 and chainoutline 60` thereof.

The maneuverability of the scoop 42 is further extended by manipulationof piston and cylinder 54 which is connected between eye bracket 38 ofthe pivoted boom section 30 and eye bracket 62 on support plate 64 ofthe inner boom section 16. In this example extension and retraction ofpiston rod 66 moves the pivoted boom section 30 and the bucket 42between their solid outline position of FIG. 1 and the chain outlineposition 68 thereof.

When my novel scoop attachment 10 is used in connection with thedemolition machine of my aforementioned co-pending application, the toolcradle cylinder 94 shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 of that application may takethe place of the piston and cylinder 54 described herein. In such casethe cylinder 54 (FIGS. 1 and 2) can be operated by the fluid circuit ofFIG. 8 of the aforementioned application. The cylinder 52 can besimilarly operated with the additions to the aforementioned FIG. 8 asshown in FIG. 3 herei-n. Thus, an additional solenoid valve 70 can beaded to the valve stack 152 of the copending application (FIG. 8) and anadditional holding valve 72 coupled between the solenoid valve 70 andthe scoop cylinder 52 From the foregoing it will be apparent that noveland efficient forms of scoop attachments have been disclosed herein. Thescoop attachment 10 is capable of considerable maneuverability with aminimum of component parts. In particular, such maneuverability isaccomplished without the use of bulky linkages and connectionsprotruding transversely of the boom and scoop structure 12-16-30-42. Inconsequence, my novel scoop attachment 10 can be operated with a highdegree of maneuverability within severely limited spaces encounteredwhen the aforementioned demolition machine or the like is employed inconnection with a soaking pit furnace or the like. To minimize thelateral protrusions of the scoop attachment 10 and associated componentsof the boom structure 12, the pivot axis of the pivoted boom section 30and of the scoop 42 are displaced relatively short distances laterallyof the inner boom section 16 and of the pivoted boom section 30. Suchdisplacement permits the actuating cylinders 52-54 to be operatedadjacent the longitudinal axes of the inner boom section 16 and of thepivoted boom section 30. In this respect, the left ends (as viewed inFIGS. 1 and 2) of the piston and cylinders arrangements 52-54, arepivoted respectively adjacent the aforementioned longitudinal axes. Thecylinder pivots are sufciently close to the open ends of the boomsections 16, 30 that the piston and cylinder arrangements 52, 54 canpivot during their normal operation without contacting the adjacent sidewalls of the tubular sections 16, 30.

While I have shown and described certain presently preferred embodimentsof the invention and have illustrated presently preferred methods ofpracticing the same, it i's to be distinctly understood that theinvention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodiedand practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A scoop attachment for a demolition machine or the like having amovable boom structure, said scoop attachment comprising bearing andpivot means secured to the outer end portion of said boom structure,said bearing and pivot means being shaped so that the pivot portionthereof is displaced laterally of said boom structure, a pivoted boomsection having second bearing and pivot means joined to each endthereof, each of said second bearing and pivot means having a pivotportion displaced laterally of said pivoted boom section, mea-ns forpivotally joining one of said second bearing and pivot means to saidtiret-mentioned bearing and pivot means, a scoop member, means forpivotally joining said scoop member to the other of said second bearingand pivot means, and extendible and retractable linkages connectedbetween said boom structure and said pivoted boom section, and betweensaid pivoted boom section and said scoop member at positions laterallydisplaced from said pivot portions respectively, at least one end ofsaid linkages being secured to the associated one of said boom structureand said pivoted boom section substantially at the longitudinal axisthereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first-mentionedbearing and pivot means are substantially identical to that one of saidsecond bearing and pivot means which are pivoted to said scoop member,so that said scoop member can be alternatively attached to either ofsaid identical pivot means.

3. A scoop attachment for a demolition machine or the like having amovable boom structure, said scoop attachment comprising bearing andpivot means secured to the outer end portion of said boom structure,said bearing and pivot means being shaped so that the pivot portionthereof is displaced slightly laterally of said boom structure, apivoted boom section having bearing and pivot means joined to each endthereof, each of said last-mentioned bearing and pivot means having apivot portion displaced laterally of said pivoted boom section, meansfor pivotally joining one of said last-mentioned bearing and pivot meansto said first-mentioned bearing and pivot means, a scoop member, meansfor vpivotally joining said scoop member to the other of saidsecond-mentioned bearing and pivot means, and extendible and retractablelinkages connected between said boom structure and said pivoted boomsection, and between said pivoted boom section and said scoop member atpositions laterally displaced from said pivot portions respectively,said pivoted boom section being of tubular configuration, said boomstructure including a tubular section to which said iirst-mentionedbearing and pivot means are joined, and said linkages being pivotedrespectively to mounting means within said tubular boom sections, saidlinkages being at least partially enclosed within their respectivetubular sections.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein at least one end of saidlinkages being secured to the associated one of said boom structure andsaid pivoted boom section substantially at the longitudinal axisthereof.

5. The combination according to claim 3 wherein at least said pivotedtubular section limits the pivotal movement of its associated linkage.

6. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said identical bearingand pivot means include a plurality of spaced, axially extending bearingplates terminating in a transverse array of spaced bushings, and theother of said second bearing and pivot means and said scoop member pivotmeans each include a number of bearing plates interitted between theassociated ones of said bushings.

7. A scoop attachment for a demolition machine and the like having amovable boom structure, said attachment comprising a tubular pivotedboom section, bearing and pivot means secured to each end of said boomsection and extending generally axially thereof, the pivot portion 'ofeach of said bearing and pivot means 'being displaced laterally of thelongitudinal axis of said pivoted boom section, a scoop member, meansfor pivotally joining said scoop lmember to the associated one of saidbearing and pivot means, and an extendible and retracta'ble linkageconnected between said pivoted boom section and said scoop member, theadjacent end of said linkage being pivoted within said pivot portion,substantially at its said longitudinall axis, so that said linkage is atleast partially enclosed therein.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein Said pivoted boomsection limits the pivotal movement of said linkage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,754,985 7/1965 Przyblyski214-138 2,984,373 5/1961 Przybylski 214-141 3,024,920 3/1962 Sundin212--35 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner U.S.Cl.X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent No,3,532,234 October 6, 1970 Louis A. Grant It is certified that errorappears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 58, "describde" should read described line 52, after"machine" insert a comma. Column 2, line. 12, "Prybylski" should readPrzybylski line 42, "joined" should read joining e- Column 4, line 2,"apieces" should read apices line 37, "aded" should read added 1ine 40,after "S2" insert a period.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of April 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

